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Sunday, December 29, 2013

What a year 2013 turned out to be for the world of indie music and for me here at MY Indie Music Blog. This was my first official full year supporting indie artists from all over the world. When I first started to entertain the idea of doing a Top 10 list, I actually started to have a bit of an anxiety attack. How in the world was I going to whittle down the albums that I've come to grow and love over the course of this year and actually rank them? Worse yet, how in the world was I going to pick just 10 of them?! Therein lies the predicament that I've gotten myself into. The more I scrutinize this list, the more albums/EPs I end up adding and removing. This is hard people! It's like asking me which of my daughters I love more!!!And yes, I'm fully aware that there are more than 10 albums/EPs on this list. That's because it's my Top 10 list and that's the way it's gonna be :) !Now let's get on with the list, shall we?10. (tie) Simpleton & Cityfolk No Man is an IslandI guess it's better late than never that this album has finally made its way onto this blog. I've been listening along since this album's release back in July. Simpleton & Cityfolk became a favorite of mine back in 2012 and they continue to bring some of the coolest Americana/folk/rock to the stage. One of many highlights from the album is Two Golden Stars. Solid from start to finish, I couldn't think of a better way to kick off this list!No Man Is An Island by Simpleton & CityfolkSimple & Cityfolk10. (tie) Sleeperstar Blue Eyes EP

It's been nearly two years since I first became mesmerized by this Dallas based quintet and their album Just Another Ghost. Fast forward to their latest EP Blue Eyes and the band has only gotten better. Today's answer to the alternative rock scene, Sleeperstar shares on Blue Eyes an honest, intimate look into "their innermost secrets about life, love, courage, despair and everything in between." Blue Eyes is a quick 6-song EP that will stick with you long after the last note plays.Sleeperstar9. Natalie Gelman Streetlamp Musician

New York City native Natalie Gelman is back again on MY Indie Music Blog with her EP Streetlamp Musician. I was honored to be a part of her successful Kickstarter campaign earlier this year to help fund the radio release of this album. This was the first successful crowd-funded campaign that I actively and passionately backed as Ms. Gelman gave us an EP worth getting behind. Honest and heart-felt lyric writing combined with Ms. Gelman's naturally smooth vocals allows you to immerse yourself in the passion behind the artist. I sincerely hope that the world gets behind this artist soon. It's way past her time to shine!

WHY is the band who, in my humble fan opinion, can bring a huge amount of credibility back to the music industry. They continue to write and record music their way while giving their fans exactly what we've come to expect of them- intelligent lyrics, huge stadium worthy hooks and 125% of their hearts and souls every time. The Leap solidifies the band's spot in my lifetime hall of fame. I've said it before about this band and I'll say it again: WHY is one of the most important artists in music of our time. And the time is now for the world to discover this!

For those of you who have followed along with me here on MY Indie Music Blog and over on Twitter, you probably would have never picked up on my love of hip-hop/r&b. There's a reason why, and I explained that to you when I first introduced Mello and his mixtape Open Windows to you. For me, the current state of the music industry took a turn for the worse when hip-hop seemingly lost it's identity. Enter a young buc from Jersey to turn my world upside down and take me back to the golden days of hip-hop. Every time I listen to Open Windows, Mello takes me back to summers growing up in Dallas. For the ship to be righted in the music industry, we NEED artists like Mello.Ya boy Mello6. (tie) Nicki Kris I Come Alive

If you're looking for one of the purist vocalists around today, look no further than Nicki Kris. I Come Alive is one of those rare indie albums that comes across like a mainstream record. There are soaring vocals and pop riffs galore, but what sets it apart from its mainstream contemporaries is its honesty. Nicki doesn't pretend to be someone that she isn't and she doesn't try to copy what others have done before her. What you get is raw talent that's just begging for a touch of shine to spiff it up.

In case you've ever wondered what one of my all-time favorite eras of music is/was, look no further than the 80's. More specifically, the hair metal craze. Fast forward to 2013, and Albuquerque's very own Circle the D.O.G.S. has revitalized the rock n roll scene. All of the metal without as much of the hair, Unleashed is one of those albums that hits every note just the right way. Whether your at the gym or driving down the road with the windows rolled down, this album is best enjoyed with the volume cranked as high as your earholes can handle it!

I'm going to admit it now. Of all the indie artists that I've come across in 2013, Collette Andrea is my favorite. Collette
is a throwback to an era when music touched your soul. Intelligent
lyric writing combined with innovative arrangements and one extremely
melodic voice instantly take you back to the golden days of the
singer/songwriter in the 60's and 70's, but with a fresh, now feeling. Pushing play on the Luna EP instantly makes my soul smile.Collette Andrea5. (tie) Ryan Star Animals

What's this? A "mainstream" artist on a indie artist list you ask? I beg to differ. If you've followed along this year, you'd know that 2013 is the year that Ryan Star took back control of his career and headed back to his indie artist roots. Nothing short of utmost respect has been doled out to Mr. Star for his bold move to drop out of the rat race so that he could get back to recording his music his way. And the #RStarArmy is the proud beneficiary! Couple this with a highly successful Pledge Music campaign and Ryan is well on his way to owning the music industry in 2014! Look out, because A N G E L S + A N I M A L S is coming up next!

Admittedly, THE most anticipated release of 2013, for me, was The Glow by SoCal's very own, In Air. I first fell in love with this band's sound over two years ago when they were known as Nobody Gets Killed. Already energized with a fresh take on today's alternative sound, the band decided to change names as well as sounds just when it seemed like things were about to take off for them. I was very excited to hear the transformation that they'd undergone. And was I ever floored! Words most times escape me when I try to explain this band's sound, so let's let the music do the talking, shall we?4. (tie) In Air The Glass Between Us

Continuing on their musical evolution, In Air gave us a second EP in 2013, The Glass Between Us. I think the band was more concerned than their fans were about the direction they were headed musically. I for one can not get enough of them. The Glass Between Us
is yet another labor of love and really shows off a polished sound. The
vocals have never sounded better, the lyrics have never had deeper
meaning and the musical musings that tie this EP together are spot on. There is definitely a harder edge to their sound now, and I like it!

At the 426
is what happens when an artist is honestly thankful and grateful for
their fans. What Audra, Pat, Billy, Pete and Aaron have given us is
nothing short of their very souls. They have a unique sound that never
wavers for the sake of conformity. This is one of the indie artists that
I am completely torn over when it comes to them getting their "big
break". While I want to see them succeed in the music industry beyond
even their wildest dreams, I also want them to stay the small indie band
from Hartford, CT that I'm dying to see at a live show.
Whatever
happens, I know this much: I'll be a #Crazy8 for life and support them
no matter what path their careers end up going down.Chaser Eight2. David Gielan Wading Through the Bracken, Part 1

For me, everything indie always comes back to David Gielan. If it weren't for this immensely, outrageously talented artist, I don't know where I'd be (in a musical sense). David Gielan is one of those artists that comes along once in a great
while. As a singer/songwriter, his passion for his music is evident in
every song that he has released so far in his career. From his debut
album Idea Lab, to his time spent as lead singer of Simple 6 and Oh
Crap! Ninjas, to my all-time favorite indie album The Imperfect Tense, add Wading Through the Bracken, Part 1 and you've got one of the top indie catalogs ever assembled by one artist.

What is there left for me to say about the hardest working duo in music today that I haven't already said? When you hit play, I want you to realize that this is just a little two person outfit out of Bangor, Maine that's about to blow your earholes up with some of the hardest hitting rock n roll ever. What Sasha and Chris have done is left everything they had at the time in the studio. What we get is one of the greatest albums/EPs in the modern era of music. Period.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Yes, I'm back at it again tonight. Like I said in my last post... this is me making up for lost time here on MY Indie Music Blog.And it doesn't hurt that I've been completely blind-sided and blown away by one crazy talented young lady out of the Boston area. If you read my previous post on The Organ Beats, then the voice you're about to hear will be familiar to you, but the sound is all Noelle!

I had originally intended to include Noelle LeBlanc's solo material in my previous post on her band, The Organ Beats. After careful consideration, I decided that she deserved her own space here as well. She is that damn good!Who Needs Love When You Got Lonely by noelleWhether she's wearing her heart on her sleeve or synthing (is that an actual term/word?) up a cover of the Boss himself, Noelle hits it right every time.This isn't the first time that I've heard Noelle. In fact, I'm familiar with a band that she used to front a few years ago, Damone (again, thanks Jake!). As a member of a national touring act, Noelle cut her chops on the rock stage opening for the likes of Sum 41, All American Rejects and Buck Cherry, as well as having their music featured on television shows and in video games. After going their separate ways, she found a sound distinctly her own. And I like it!Waiting For October by noelleI guess this means that I'm going to have to dust off my traveling shoes and make a few trips down to Boston soon. This is a rough life that I lead!Now go show some indie love like only you can!Noelle LeBlanc on BandCamp

I think this is me making up for lost time here on MY Indie Music Blog! And you all get to reap the benefits!Let me start by dropping a few names here. I want to again thank Mo Nabulsi from In Air for encouraging me to put my voice for the independent artist to blog. Nearly a year and half and now 157 posts later, we're still going strong my friend! And thank you to Jake Roche (formerly of Jeremiah Freed and Lit on the Flash) for turning me on to what you are about to experience. I've grown very fond of my like-minded indie music loving friends, and I deeply value their input when it comes to this blog and their recommendations for new (to me) artists to check out. In all honesty, and this is meant as no disrespect to any indie band or artist who has yet to make an appearance here, I tend to make these recommendations priority for blog space.So let's get down to the matter at hand. Making their debut on MY Indie Music Blog, from Boston, Massachusetts, USA, this is The Organ Beats!

Siblings Noelle (vocals/guitar/keys) and Danny LeBlanc (drums) are joined by Alex Fiorentino (lead guitar/keys) and Mikey C. (bass) to rouse you with some of the slickest rock n roll to come out of Boston since, well, Boston!

"Their records have unmistakable hints of
bands with distinction, such as Weezer, The Pixies, Letters To Cleo,
etc. However TOB have a charm of their own and are hard to lump into any
category."GOLDENHEART by The Organ BeatsI've been listening to this album almost non-stop for the better part of a week now and still can't get enough of it! The sound takes me back to a time when the music we heard on the radio was genuine and original. At risk of showing how old I am, I almost half expect to hear a little bit of vinyl scratchiness. Yeah, this is music the way it's meant to be. Period.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

THE NEW EP BY IN AIR, THE GLASS BETWEEN US, IS HERE!!!!!!!!!I'm not Irish, but if I was, I'd be dancing a jig right now I'm so excited!

The Glass Between Us is the latest offering from one of our all-time favorites here at MY Indie Music Blog- Anaheim, California's very own, In Air. I was given an advanced copy of the new EP several weeks ago and have had time to soak up the awesomeness that Mo, Mike and Tony have spoiled us with from their 2nd EP this year!Breaking from their own mold but at the same time keeping their sound distinctly original, The Glass Between Us comes off as an almost reinvention of an already evolving sound.

From their beginning as Nobody Gets Killed to their rebirth as In Air and their debut EP, The Glow, the guys have continued to evolve as artists. The Glass Between Us is yet another labor of love and really shows off a polished sound. The vocals have never sounded better, the lyrics have never had deeper meaning and the musical musings that tie this EP together are spot on."While numerous influences are evident,
the music is nothing less than unique. With an approach free from
pretense and spectacle, In Air strives for music that is fresh, in
pursuit of that perfect chord, melody, groove; just to feel a little
more than human."This EP proves that you guys have achieved that and so much more!

Head over to CD Baby now and download your copy of The Glass Between Us.

While we're here, I need to also mention that In Air is again nominated by the Artists in Music Awards as Best Alternative Artist. They are actually going for a 3peat this year. After listening to their new EP, you should already know what I know... so head over to the Artists in Music website and throw a vote or two or a dozen or more their way, would ya?! Voting ends January 20th.Help In Air 3peat as Best Alternative Artist at the 2014 Artists in Music Awards

Monday, November 25, 2013

It's been a while, hasn't it? It feels good to be back here, but even more importantly, it feels good to bring Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada's very own WHY back to MY Indie Music Blog!

If you haven't seen the image above all over your Twitter feed or your Facebook wall, you're doing yourself a huge disservice. The band is back and sounding better than ever with their newest album, The Leap!Brian Cook, vocals; Dave Bergmuller, drums; Eric Norquist, keys/guitar/backing vocals, and David Kuusselka, lead guitar, make up one of the most important bands in music today. From a fan's perspective, it's easy to get caught up in the catchy hooks and the smooth vocals that accompany each track. But give the music a listen, a REAL listen, and immerse yourself in tales of love and loss and hope for the future.

My first exposure to WHY was their song Crash Into the Future. I was hooked on them before the song made it to the second verse. There is a craft to what they put into their music. Every lyric sung, every note played is done with nothing less than 110% of their hearts and souls... and it shows in the final product they present to us. We get that rare look into an artist's soul as the band invites us in to their world. And for the band, their hard work is starting to show as they are being recognized by their peers in the music industry. Recently, the band was asked to take part in Bono's (yes, Bono from U2) ONE Organization to help bring the plight of severe poverty in the world to center stage. They partnered with another Winnipeg music icon, FLO, for one rousing rendition of The Rolling Stone's Gimme Shelter.Please join me in helping to bring the music of WHY to the forefront of the music industry. If you haven't already figured out by listening along to their music as you read these words on your screen, WHY is about more than just recording the next catchy hook. They're about making a difference, a REAL difference, in the world that we all live in.Download The Leap on iTunes

I've been a fan of WHY for what seems like ages now, but in reality not much longer than a year or two at the most. Their music has made enough of an impact on me that no matter what their future endeavors, they will ALWAYS have a place on this blog.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

For those of you who frequent this blog, you are well aware of who my all-time favorite band is. Lit on the Flash. There's a reason why this is the 24th time that they have been mentioned in some way, shape or form in the brief history of this blog. A few days ago, former front man Jake Roche sent me an e-mail. In that e-mail was MP3s of a rehearsal the band recorded in late 2012. I could barely contain myself!

The final incarnation of the band, as pictured above, was Kerry Ryan, drums/backing vocals, Andrew Patterson, bass/backing vocals and Jake Roche, guitar/lead vocals. What was shared with me by Jake was recorded in late 2012, around the time that the band was doing a series of cover shows of Nirvana's Nevermind in and around southern Maine and New Hampshire. As much as I enjoyed the Nirvana tunes, they paled in comparison to the original music being put out by the guys. Now, I give to you, my faithful readers, the closest that most of you may get to a live Lit on the Flash Show.I give to you Lit on the Flash - The Rehearsal.Listening to these recordings takes me back to some of the coolest live shows I've ever been to. This is the reason I spent a year and half following these guys all over the place. I can't begin to count the miles driven from Bangor, Maine all the way down to New Hampshire and points in between. I strongly believe that at the time of their breakup, they were at the absolute top of their game. There was no other band in the music industry, indie or mainstream, that was producing music on the level that Lit on the Flash was. Keep in mind, this was a three piece indie band from Wells, Maine putting their hearts and souls into their music on a indie budget in the truest sense. And I would take them 10 times out of 10 over anything on the radio today. To call them original would be understating the impact they were making on music. If only we could have figured out how to get their music out to more of you, maybe things would have gone differently. Who knows.Litontheflash.bandcamp.comJakeRoche.bandcamp.comCobraVsMongoose.bandcamp.com (A Kerry Ryan project)Support unsigned artists... give indie music a chance.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

It's time for another installment of the Indie Music Bus™ Act of the Month!I couldn't be more grateful of the opportunity that I've been given by the Indie Music Bus™ to be a part of the incredible job they do supporting the #indie music community. Each month, I get the pleasure of discovering new artists who I may not have otherwise had an chance to hear. It's artist after artist of quality #indie music each and every month. And I couldn't be any happier about it!So let's get to it, shall we? Another stellar artist is right here on MY Indie Music Blog for you to enjoy, thanks to the Indie Music Bus™.

Love and a .38 is the Indie Music Bus™ October Act of the Month. Hailing from Los Angeles, California, USA, Love and a .38 is made up of Ryan Hudson, vocals; Justin Emord, bass; Danny Excess, drums and Domo Domaracki on guitar. This quartet is one of the most polished bands you'll hear anywhere, be it on mainstream radio or streaming on any #indie station on the internet.Now it's time to crank the volume, sit back and get ready for one helluva raucous, rocking good time!If your ears aren't ringing, you don't have the volume up loud enough! Love and a .38 quickly became a favorite of mine. They have that sound that demands to be listened to with the windows rolled down and the volume on full blast so that EVERYONE can hear you coming!Congrats to Love and a .38 on being named the Indie Music Bus™ Act of the Month. There are huge things coming your way... the proof is in the music. I'm looking forward to following you on your rise to the top. Then I'll be able to say I blogged about you when!Official Love and a .38 website

Friday, October 4, 2013

If you follow me on Twitter (@cgnipp), you've more than likely seen a Tweet or two or more about me professing my absolute dying devotion to the indie acts that I've grown to love over the past few years. I refer to it as "unashamedly showing favoritism" to my favorites. This is by no means meant as any disrespect to any other artist that follows me on Twitter with hopes of making it on to this blog. In all honesty, I could write a new post every day for 6 months and still have a list of artists that are looking for my support. To those artists, I say please be patient with me. I will get around to introducing you to my faithful readers. As it stands right now, I have 63 drafts for this blog that have been started. That means a whole lot of reading and a whole lot of bad ass indie music for you all to discover. If your looking for rock, folk, alternative, hip-hop/rap, r&b, country, you're going to find it all and more right here in the days, weeks and months to come.But.... in the meantime, let's get back to some favoritism, shall we?!

I first introduced you to Chaser Eight back in March of this year (Chaser Eight ft *AUDRA*) when I featured their EP Up and Up. Up and Up is the sole reason why I became a #Crazy8 and devoted myself to doing what small part I could to make sure the music of Chaser Eight is heard by as many of you as possible. While you're reading this, do me a small favor and turn your radio on and tune it to your local Top 40 or adult contemporary station. While you're reading these words, try to pay close attention to what you hear. Now turn the radio off and let your ears recover.... then hit play:

At the 426 is what happens when an artist is honestly thankful and grateful for their fans. What Audra, Pat, Billy, Pete and Aaron have given us is nothing short of their very souls. They have a unique sound that never wavers for the sake of conformity. This is one of the indie artists that I am completely torn over when it comes to them getting their "big break". While I want to see them succeed in the music industry beyond even their wildest dreams, I also want them to stay the small indie band from Hartford, CT that I'm dying to see at a live show.Whatever happens, I know this much: I'll be a #Crazy8 for life and support them no matter what path their careers end up going down. And what exactly is a #Crazy8 you ask?*Crazy 8: n. 1. A person that is extremely enthusiastic about the
music Chaser Eight produces and is invested or committed to their
success.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Happy Wednesday everyone! I hope you've got your volume set to full blast, cause you're gonna need it to properly enjoy what's about to hit your earholes!It is with great pleasure that I bring back to MY Indie Music Blog Calgary, Alberta, Canada's resident rock n roll bad asses Kingdom of Few and their new single and video Carpe Diem! To refresh your memory, KOF is Curtis Butala on vocals, Alex Parks on bass, Reno Serani on guitar and John Clark on drums. Carpe Diem is picking up right where their debut EP left off- kick ass vocals, pounding percussion and righteous guitar riffs that are primed to take over the airwaves and show the mainstream wanna-be rockers out there how it should be done!I'm looking forward to more great music from these guys. As always, I've got unlimited blog space reserved just for them! So keep checking back in with me here for everything you need to know and hear from Canada's hottest rockers!!!The Kingdom of Few official website

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Good Saturday evening everyone!In case you haven't realized, when I brought back the song of the day to MY Indie Music Blog, I haven't been posting a song every day. Last year when I started all this, I kind of got carried away on more than one occasion with the song of the day. More often than not I would post multiple songs of the day. After about a month of this, I decided I was watering down the whole experience for you, my faithful readers and lovers of all things indie. Yeah, yeah, yeah... I know, there's a TON of indie music that needs to be shared with the world And don't worry, I'm in this for the long haul. I'll do my part to get the music out one song of the day at a time and one artist feature at a time. But in the meantime, I also want to make sure that you're all getting the quality that you deserve out of this blog.So without further ado, I give to you MY Indie Music Blog's song of the day... Get Up Tonight by High Tyde!!!Brighton, UK, is responsible for giving the world of indie music High Tyde. What I really like about this band is their retro-alternative sound. For me being a child of the 80's, their sound really brings me back to some of the best British pop/rock/alternative bands from one of my favorite eras ever in music, and Get Up Tonight is one of their finest examples!Enjoy them now and look for an artist feature on them right here in the next month or so when their upcoming album is released in October.Keep up the great work guys. I'm really impressed with what you've given us so far and am looking forward to supporting you in the future!Follow High Tyde on TwitterLike High Tyde on FacebookFollow High Tyde on SoundCloudHigh Tyde on ReverbNationSupport unsigned artists... give indie music a chance.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

It's finally here! THE NEW EP FROM WHEN PARTICLES COLLIDE IS FINALLY HERE!!!!!In case you couldn't tell, I'm a bit excited about this post. It's not just because this is When Particles Collide that we're talking about here. It's not just because I absolutely adore Chris and Sasha with every fiber of my being. It's not just because this is NEW music from two of the hardest working rockers I have the pleasure to know. It's not just because this NEW music is freaking badass. It's not just because... ah, who the hell am I kidding?! IT'S BECAUSE OF ALL OF THIS AND THEN SOME THAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS POST!!!!!

So this is it. The moment that I've personally been waiting for for what seems like forever, but in reality has only been 12 short months since the release of their debut full-length album, Pop! Pop! Bang! Bang!, we are now treated to one of the greatest rock n roll EPs EVER recorded, EGO!

You've met Bangor, Maine's favorite newlywed rock n rollers Sasha Alcott (guitar/vocals) and Chris Viner (drums) on this very blog multiple times in the past, most recently when the lead single, Ego, was release a few short weeks ago. Now it's time for a full on rock onslaught of your earholes with the release of the 5 song EP. You better be ready for this one, because I literally blew out a speaker in my truck the other day blasting this (it was Perfect Teeth, by the way)!

Coming in at the aforementioned 5 songs, EGO is a 20 minute thrill ride from start to finish. This is THE EP that should put WPC on the map and have everyone in the music industry talking.

Check out their preview video below and judge for yourself:

By now, you should be as convinced as I am as to the greatness that has just unfolded before your very ears!Now it's time to go out and order your copy. The only place that it's currently available is at Bull Moose Records (yes, they still have actual brick and mortar record stores!) in Portland, Scarborough and Bangor, Maine, and in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Or, if you're lucky enough to live in New England, you'll be able to grab one personally from the band at one of their upcoming shows. Or, you can even order one online from Bull Moose and have it shipped to your house. They ship FAST, believe me!Order EGO by When Particles Collide from Bull Moose RecordsSomething else that WPC is doing to promote the release of EGO is running a contest to give away their first tour bus! Check out this Facebook event page for all the details... and make sure you do what they say, I did! I mean, how awesome would it be to sit your ass in THE Caravan that delivered soooo much rock n roll to sooo many people all over the USA?! (Editor's note: I REALLY WANT TO WIN THE TOUR BUS!!!)When Particles Collide EGO Facebook EP release event pageSasha and Chris, thank you for the tunes! See you two down the road!!!